The top New Year’s Eve events in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Punta Gorda
We're nearly at the end of December's event calendar, and 2023's, but not before one last day of festivities with New Year's Eve. While the holiday is nearly here, fear not if you haven't made plans yet, as there'll be plenty of ways to ring in the new year in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.
The biggest annual celebration locally is the Pineapple Drop in downtown Sarasota, featuring a fittingly Floridian, tropical twist on the traditional New Year's Eve ball drop as well as a fireworks display, live music, food and drink, and carnival rides and games. But you'll find festivities featuring fireworks, food — including from some of our best-known restaurants — and more fun all throughout our area.
Here are the top New Year's Eve celebrations taking place in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties this year. Event details are subject to change.
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New Year's Eve Pineapple Drop Party
The annual New Year's Eve tradition features live music and a carnival, culminating with the Pineapple Drop at midnight followed by a fireworks display over Sarasota Bay. 1 p.m.-1 a.m.; Intersection of Lemon Avenue and Main Street, Sarasota; destinationdowntownsarasota.com
New Year's Eve at Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar
The recently opened Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar will offer an early New Year's Eve celebration with complimentary champagne toast and dessert table. All ages are welcome in the indoor restaurant and outdoor doggie dining deck, while those ages 16 or older are allowed in the off-leash dog parks. All dogs visiting Boo's must register and meet certain requirements. 6-7 p.m.; Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar, 1314 10th St., Sarasota; 941-960-2669; boosdogbar.com
New Year's Eve at Waterside Place
Waterside Place will host this New Year's Eve celebration with a drone light show, food trucks, drinks, music by DJ Truth, games and activities for all ages. 6 p.m.-midnight; Waterside Place, 1560 Lakefront Drive, Lakewood Ranch; free admission; lwrca.org
New Year's Eve at Fishermen's Village
Fishermen's Village will host this celebration featuring family-friendly activities, live music and a fireworks display to ring in the New Year, with the best viewing area at the Dry Beach. 6 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; Fishermen's Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda; 941-639-8721; fishermensvillage.com
Mango Drop
Hotel Venezia hosts this New Year's Eve party featuring a buffet dinner, party favors, champagne toast and live music by Sunny Jim, Beth Travers, Dave Signs and Jax Bowers. Want to keep the festivities going? There will also be a meet and greet with the artists Dec. 30 and a New Year's Day songwriters' breakfast, held as part of a three-day celebration. 6 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; Hotel Venezia, 425 U.S. Highway 41 Bypass N., Venice; $125 New Year's Eve party only, $195 three-day celebration; sunnyjim.com/mango-drop
New Year's Eve Dance on Water
Art Ovation Hotel's eighth-floor Perspective Rooftop Pool Bar will celebrate New Year's Eve with a lineup of acclaimed DJs including Robbie Rivera, DJ Dean and Val Verra, as well as a view of the downtown Sarasota fireworks. 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota; $50 advance, $75 day of general admission, VIP packages also available; 941-316-0808; perspectiverooftopbar.com
New Year's Eve Celebration at Pier 22
Downtown Bradenton waterfront restaurant Pier 22 will celebrate New Year's Eve with a buffet, open bar and live music by Hot Club SRQ Trio. After dinner, head out to the terrace for DJ music, a midnight toast and view of the Manatee River. 6:30 p.m. check-in, 7 p.m. event; Pier 22, 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton; $200 plus tax and service fee/gratuity; 941-748-8087; pier22.com
New Year’s Eve at UTC
Ring in the new year early with this event at University Town Center featuring a DJ, face painting, games, entertainment and a 9 p.m. fireworks show. 7-9 p.m.; The Green at UTC, 125 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; utcsarasota.com
Sharky's New Year's Eve Beach Bash
Venice beachfront restaurant and bar Sharky's on the Pier hosts this annual New Year's Eve event, featuring live music from Scarlet Drive and a fireworks show at midnight. 7 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; Sharky’s on the Pier, 1600 Harbor Drive S., Venice; $30-$40, $75-$175 VIP; 941-488-1456; sharkysonthepier.com
Selby Gardens New Year's Eve Gala
Selby Gardens' downtown Sarasota campus will host this black-tie event with private access to its Lights in Bloom holiday light show, hors d’oeuvres, seated four-course dinner, performances by The Sarasota Ballet's Margaret Barbieri Conservatory, and DJ Karim, culminating with a champagne toast and view of the fireworks over Sarasota Bay. 7 p.m.-1 a.m.; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota; $450 individual, sponsorships also available; 941-366-5731; selby.org
New Year's Eve Masquerade
Lakewood Ranch restaurant Grove will host a New Year's Eve soiree with hors d'oeuvres, late-night desserts, dance floor, DJ and complimentary midnight champagne toast, with a cash bar available. Guests are encouraged to wear masquerade masks. 7:30 p.m. check-in, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. event; Grove, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch; $100 plus tax and service fee/gratuity; 941-893-4321; grovelwr.com
New Year's Eve Luau
The Big Tiki Lounge in Siesta Key will host this luau party with a DJ, live entertainment, premium open bar, a la carte dinner menu and champagne toast at midnight. 8 p.m.-midnight; The Big Tiki Lounge, 5311 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key; $100 plus tax and gratuity; 941-349-3211; facebook.com
New Year's Eve Open Bar Bash
Siesta Key nightlife spot Beach Club will hold its annual New Year's Eve open bar bash, with free drinks from 8 to 11 p.m. for everyone who purchases a ticket, plus hors d'oeuvres, champagne fountain, complimentary champagne toast at midnight and other surprises. 8 p.m.; Beach Club, 5151 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key; $60 standard open bar package, $90 premium open bar; 941-349-6311; beachclubsiestakey.com
New Year's Eve at Gator Club
Right in the thick of the Pineapple Drop festivities downtown is Gator Club, which will feature live music by Johnny Diamond downstairs starting at 9:30 p.m. and DJ Ryan upstairs starting at 10 p.m., with complimentary champagne and party favors. 8 p.m.; The Gator Club, 1490 Main Street, Sarasota; $25 general admission, limited pre-purchased reserved seats available; 941-366-5969; thegatorclub.com
New Year's Eve at 99 Bottles
The downtown Sarasota craft beer and wine bar will throw a New Year's Eve party limited to 50 people offering bottomless draft beer, wine, bubbles and appetizers. 8:30 p.m.-midnight; 99 Bottles, 1445 Second St., Sarasota; $125 per person; 941-487-7874; 99bottles.net
Bradenton Alive New Year's Eve Celebration
Downtown Bradenton's Old Main Street will host this celebration with live music by the Derek Lersch Band starting at 8:30 p.m., along with food trucks, vendors, party favors and fireworks. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; 450 12th St. W., Bradenton; facebook.com/bradentonsalive
New Year's Eve Rooftop Soiree
Another downtown Sarasota rooftop bar, The Westin Sarasota's 19th-floor The Roof Bar and Eats, will host this event with a DJ, dance floor, party favors, complimentary champagne toast at midnight, and what should be a prime vantage point of downtown Sarasota's Pineapple Drop festivities and fireworks. 9 p.m.-1 a.m.; The Westin Sarasota, 100 Marina View Drive, Sarasota; sold out as of press time; 941-217-4777; facebook.com/thewestinsarasota
New Year's Eve Disco
Venice brewery 3 Bridges Brewing will celebrate its first year at its new standalone location with a '70s-themed party featuring a DJ, costume contest and photo booth, with tickets including two drinks, a glass of champagne and an appetizer and small plate buffet. 10 p.m.-1 a.m.; 3 Bridges Brewing, 1765 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice; $30 advance, $35 day of; 941-445-4067; facebook.com/3bridgesbrewing
New Year's Eve 2023 X Studio 54 at Georgie's UTC
Also throwing a disco-themed New Year's Eve party will be Georgie's in University Town Center, which will transform into a Studio 54-reminiscent space with a DJ playing disco tracks, a dance floor, and guests encouraged to wear their most glamorous disco attire. 10 p.m.; Georgie's UTC Restaurant & Bar, 229 N. Cattlemen Road #69, Sarasota; $20 general admission, VIP tables also available (21-and-up); 941-952-5001; georgiesgardencafe.com
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top New Year’s Eve 2023 events Sarasota Bradenton Venice Punta Gorda
